With Love From Kentucky (Part One)

PHILADELPHIA — A few days ago, my colleague, L.A. Batchelor submitted a column, “The Devil & his Bride are finally Together” — making reference to the University of Kentucky hiring former Memphis coach John Calipari as its men’s basketball coach.

The University of Kentucky reportedly paid former coach Bill Gillespie $6 million dollars to leave the school because Gillespie did not win Kentucky a national championship; and had missed this year’s NCAA tourney.

Calipari, who has never won a national championship, but has come close with stops at the University of Massachusetts and Memphis, was a choice arguably made more out of style than substance; and it’s the “arguing” that forms the base of this column:

Oh, and by the way, Calipari signed an eight-year, $35 million contract – the largest contract in college basketball history. In a business where the CEO says 90% of their member schools are losing money, the University of Kentucky has shelled out $41 million in less than two weeks.

Damn! Are they taking money from their state stimulus package to pay this guy?

Further discussion of this topic on the BASN/blogtalkradio.com show “The Batchelor Pad” resulted in a deluge of responses. The point of our shows on BASN is to get people to speak; but make dissenting arguments with some sense; the amount of vitriol spewing from UK “fans” was unbelievable, and there’s no logical explanation for it.

This is not ESPN radio, where you must be partisan or genuflect to the host’s all-knowing wisdom, or play to the lowest common denominator for entertainment purposes, this is Real talk, which is why we expect Real responses, not the kind of horseshit heard on air by The Mouse on a daily basis.

The fact that we offer a forum where people can actually do that has shown itself to prove the basest and foulest of attitudes coupled with the inability to articulate said opinions beyond “you suck” make our premise even stronger because it seems few are able or willing to properly articulate on behalf of their issue.

We at Black Athlete would like to share with you some of what your neighbors are thinking and all of the following responses are sent verbatim.

Obviously you are an angry person with not much going for you, but no need to hate on everything. A nice exercise plan can get you in shape and able to pick up some women (or men if thats what you are into).

You did NO research! You have no proof to support your claims because none exists.

Your article is very poorly written. At best, it would receive a grade of D in my high school writing class.

Your agenda is showing.

If not for your exclusionary, racist web site you’d never find a job writing. These people obviously hired you for your attitude because your writing leaves an awful lot to be desired.

Feel free to do some research yourself, Jerry – Calipari left to the pros because it got too hot around Camby and the U Mass situation, leaving their program a mess while he escaped to the New Jersey Nets;

L.A., You are an idiot. A racist who goes around calling anyone other than black a racist. If I worked for a website called blackathletes.com I would be so ashamed of myself. How about I start a website called whiteathletes.comand a tv network called White Entertainment Television. I have many black friends who all say it’s people like you that give black people a bad name. Why do you feel the need to identify yourself by your skin color? Don’t answer that because it’s a rhetorical question and I know the answer. It’s because you are an idiot.

Words of ‘wisdom’ from Wes; who should’ve been left down his daddy’s throat…

Homework? Isn’t that what you are supposed to do? After all, you are the “writer”.

You want to portray today’s UK like it was 1950, dude?! Most, if not all universities have a racist past. In case you missed THAT fact, it was called Segregation. While Rupp was reluctant to bring in african americans to the university, he eventually did. But he wasn’t the last SEC school to do so. For the 1970-71 season, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky each introduced a black player. In 1971-72, Tennessee, Florida, LSU and Ole Miss broke the barrier. In 1972-73, Mississippi State was the last to come on board.

Why would you depict an entire university as being racist when the current facts don’t support it?

1) UK had an african american coach in basketball for ten years (Tubby Smith), and

2) UK has already announced an african american (Joker Philips) will replace our current coach in football (Rich Brooks) when he retires.

I am more than willing and able to carry on an intelligent conversation, but when you refer to UK as the “devil”, I lack the objectivity to do the same. I think that speaks volumes about your intellectual capacity. You just want to hate. You love to hate. But I will promise you one thing LA Batchelor, you will really loathe UK when Calipari wins championship #8 during his tenure at the University of Satan. LOLOLOLOL

The website that posted your article iswww.blackathlete.com. C’mon, that is racist by implication. What about white athletes? No love for whitey? Oh, I get it. You probably think white men can’t jump…

Get a grip before you trip.

>

Michael Lacy – if Calipari can last eight years, I’ll buy you a beer; his shelf life is five, six years, tops…if he wins eight national championships, I’ll buy you a case; and given some of these responses, it is clear (some) white men can’t think…

You fools always using UK to get internet traffic. You’re just another jealous, greedy fool. Go talk about something else to get your traffic up…UK will continue its dominance and you will look like another guy God made to look retarded on this Earth. Is this your sister?

P.S…you need to find another hobby.

P.S…get a job while you’re at it.

(Author’s note: the ‘this’ inferred by the responder clicks off to an appearance by Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL) a Black woman who stood up in Congress to praise the University of Florida for winning a championship…)

Ubigal, with all due respect, we don’t know what the fuck that was supposed to mean; and, apparently, neither do you – unless are you a genealogist, perhaps?

sadly enough, youre right, racism will always exist. i just keep thinking that education and love can help us all through and in my mind, you are clearly helping keep it alive. i’m not trying to look the other direction or ignore anything. your voice (being that you are a writer) carries across the nation and gets nothing accomplished other than riling both parties up. We ‘re no more informed now than we were prior to reading your spewings. i never said that im able to understand the struggle of black people. i do understand the root of white people’s racism though and it’s fear and ignorance. anytime a white person fails to make eye contact with you it’s not because they view you as being on a lower plane but that they fear you rather. and that is a result of the bullshit media monster that’s been awake and kicking for decades upon decades. your just playing your short sided forethought lacking pesty little role of getting people fired up. and the cycle continues…………….you need to remember that 95% of all the money in this land are held by 5% of the population. the new war is gonna be against the poor. so you continue to help everyone stay sidetracked from whats really going on while the powers that be doop us again. i’m done with you , i’ve already given you too much attention which is no doubt an indirect form of respect. enjoy the rest of your weekend

ps. is that going to be the new spin?? that calipari uses black young men for his personal gain? lol. i just thought he played an unstructured dribble drive kind of offense that drew one and done type players.

If that’s what Kentucky wants, we’re not stopping you; just don’t say we didn’t warn you…

From: <oliva013@aim.com> Date: Sun, Apr 5, 2009 at 12:43 PM Subject: The Devil and his bride are finally together To: labatchelor@blackathlete.com You are a racist prick. If Calipari was black you would be worshipping him and saying how he’s the best coach in America. Players that have the talent and the dream to play in the NBA go play for him because he can get them to their dream. Quit playing the race card you bigot.

Never mind we tore a hole in Nolan Richardson’s ass because of his lousy grad rates and made a scapegoat at Arkansas because of it? But, let’s not let facts get in the way of a good story…

Hey La batchelor I am an employee of UK and work in the student affairs office and wanted to fill you in on what has been going on in Lexington for the last 30 years. True KY has lived with the racism mark since the Texas Western game in 1966. Did you also know DUKE played in the final four that 1966 year and if KY did not beat them they would have played Texas Western .. And guess what?? They had a all white team…So would have KY received all that negative press, or would have coach K being defending duke every time espn shows the game? I am involved with the student athletes and serve on the students diversity council board, so your article got me thinking…” why does this guy hate UK so much? Can a school ever shake their past?

I am very proud of our academics at UK and feel we have made great strides to change our ” racists perception”. Let me give you a few firsts. In 1970 we were the 2nd school in the SEC to sign a african american basketaball player. We hired the 1st African Amercian basketball coach in the SEC-Tubby Smith. We hired the 2nd African American women’s basketball coach in SEC – Bernadette Locke. Joker Phillips is slated to replace Coach Brooks in two years to be our First African American Football coach and only 2nd behind Sylvester Crooms in the SEC. I realize in LA we are probably seen as that all white team that suited up over forty years ago against Texas Western, but things have changed in Lexington, and we are leading the way in the SEC to promote diversity in our sports programs. I harbor no ill will but I wanted to present the facts because I think UK has changed and continues to be a leader amoung NCAA divison one programs promoting equal opportunites.

Now as far as the new hire?? I have heard the rumors myself but am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Our AD called the SEC and NCAA compliance departments and asked about coach Calapari’s recruiting reputation. Both gave endorsements and actually said that he has never had any infractions personally. The umass infractions was actually with an outside sports agent and Camby and coach Cal reported it himself to the NCAA. But I do agree with your perception about his shady dealings with agents. I hope he is sincere and does not do anything to get UK on probation.

God Bless…

Hey Robert, that’s all we’re saying – let the buyer beware. You made some excellent points, and no disrespect is meant to Kentucky or Kentuckians; had Calipari gone to Arizona, we’d be cactus deep in all this out there…